Improvement in gas apparatus



n. L. WESTCO TT.

GAS APPARATUS.

N o 174 ,O 39 Patented Feb. 22, 1'8 76. V

' INVEN'II'OR u ATTORNEYS NPETERS, PHOTO-UTMDGRAFHER, WASHINGTON. D (Lsame.

UNITED STAT-Es" PATENT OFFICE.

f DANIEL L. wnstroo'rcr, or FORT WAYNE, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT'IN GAS APPARATUS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 174,039, dated February22, 1876; application filed December 11, 1875.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, DANIEL L, Wnsroorr,

of Fort Wayne, in the county of Allen and State of Indiana, haveinvented a new and valuable Improvement in Gas Appar-atus; and I doherebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the construction and operation of the same, reference being had tothe annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to theletters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a representation of a longitudinal verticalsection of my gas apparatus, and Fig. 2 is an end view of the Fig. 3 isa detail view thereof.

This invention has relation to improvements in apparatuses for themanufacture of illuminating-gas from oil, petroleum, or other liquidhydrocarbons, and which are designed for use in dwellings, factories,hotels, or for more extensive application.

It consists in the arrangement and novel construction of the variousdevices used whereby the simultaneous decomposition of the hydrocarbonsand water is secured, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the annexed drawings, the letter A designates a furnace of the usualconstruction, within which is fixed a retort, B, of any convenient formor material, and provided with an induction or inlet pipe, or, andraneduction 0r outlet pipe, I). It is also provided with an interiorevaporating-vessel, G, having in its bottom a sinuous, tortuous, orspiral channel, a, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear.Outlet 1) is provided with a pipe, D, leading into a condensing-cistern,E, which pipe extends into the said cistern, and is bent over and underinto the liquid contained therein, which operates as a seal and forcesthe gas in its passagefrom the retort into the liquid for the purpose ofcondensation. The cistern E is provided with an outlet-pipe, d, throughwhich the gas will be discharged into a holder or directly into thesupply-pipes. It has also a supply-pipe, F, by means of which the oil tobe used is introduced into the cistern, which pipe extends below theliquid contained therein, and is thus sealed. G represents a metallicpipe of suitable dimensions, leading from the cistern E into areceptacle,

E H, being first bent in the form of a siphon,

as shown at e, and then let into the receptacle upon its upper surface.Receptacle H has also a supply-pipe, I, which enters it upon its upperside, is then bent over and under, and then upward, forming a coil, 6,the object of which, as well as of coil 6, is to seal pipes G and I.This receptacle is also provided with a discharge-pipe, J, leading fromit into retort B, through the medium of inlet a, which pipe, .when nototherwise inclosed, passes through a loose jacket or case, K, which maysometimes extend around receptacle H, for the purpose of retaining theheat from the retort and furnace around the said pipe and receptacle,for the purpose hereinafter mentioned. I

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: The retort being properlyheated, petroleum or other liquid hydrocarbon is delivcred from asuitable tank, by means of a'coclr which regulates the flow at will,through the supply-pipe F into the cistern E. When the 'oil in thelatter reaches the level of pipe G, it

will pass through the same into receptacle tained from a convenient tankfurnished with a cock which controls the supply at will, which isdischarged into the said receptacle through pipe I. The mingled oil andwater will then flow, through the heated pipe J, into the retort, andwill be simultaneously delivered into the evaporating-vessel G. Inpassing through the heated pipe J thecommingled oil and water will bepartially heated, and will be delivered in this condition into' theevaporating-vessel G, and will run out of the tortuous or spiral channel0 formed in its bot tom. In passing through this channel the.commingledhydrocarbon and water will be raised to a high temperaturebeing detained in its passage through the same a sufficient time for thepurpose, and will be delivered into the retort in proper condition forbeing speedily vaporized. Thus the oil and water, being in constantproximity, are gradually and simultaneously converted into vapor andintimately diffused, instead of the water being first converted intosteam outside and then introduced separately into the retort.

The objectof this peculiar construction is to prevent the depositing ofcarbon in the retort and to dispense with an auxiliary steam-generator.The gas thus produced will in practice he further enriched by placing asupply of coke or charcoal in a retort in the usuallnanner, and it willpass out, through educt 1), into the condensing-cistern E, where thetar, if there be any, will remain, while the gas will pass out throughpipe dinto a suitable receptacle. The tarry residuum thus obtained willhe passed with the oil back into the retort, and will be againredistilled.

V I am aware that the manufacture of illuminating-gas by the aid ofsteamv generated in a separate apparatus is not novel; therefore I makeno claim to such invention.

What I claim asvnew, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination, substantially as hereinbefore described, of the retortB, having the interior evaporating-vessel 0 provided with spiralchannels, the cistern E, bent pipe G, receptacle H, and feed-pipe J,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed myname'in the presence of two witnesses.

, DANIEL L. WESTGOIT. Witnesses;

FRED HAYES, S. F. SWAYNE.

